Lamp device

ABSTRACT

A SELF-CONTAINED LAMP DEVICE HAVING A HOLLOW BODY SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE SHAPE OF A SPHERICAL SEGMENT HAVING A FLATTENED BASE AND A PLATFORM REMOVABLY MOUNTED WITHIN THE HOLLOW BODY. A PAIR OF BATTERIES ARE MOUNTED IN THE PLATFORM AND ENGAGE A PLURALITY OF CONTACTS MOUNTED IN SAID PLATFORM FOR ENERGIZING AN ELECTRIC LIGHT BULB MOUNTED IN A RESILIENT CONDUCTOR EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM ONE OF SAID CONTACTS. THE BODY HAS A RESILIENT PORTION WHICH IS DEFORMABLE INWARDLY TO ENGAGE AND OPERATE BULB-ENERGIZING MEANS WHICH   ARE OPERATIVE TO MOVE THE RESILIENT CONDUCTOR AND LIGHT BULB BETWEEN AN &#34;OFF&#34; POSITION AND &#34;ON&#34; POSITION.

United States Patent inventor Thomas H. Nicholl 1204 W. 27th St., KansasCity, Mo. 64108 Appl. No. 781,221

Filed Dec. 4, 1968 Patented June 28, 197i LAMP DEVICE 8 Claims, 1 1Drawing Figs.

Int. Cl. F2lv 33/00 Field of Search 240/64, 10, l0.5,l0.6,10.63,11,1l,2,16

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,879,381 3/1959 Coffey....3,323,117 5/1967 Mason ABSTRACT: A self-contained lamp device having ahollow body substantially in the shape of a spherical segment having aflattened base and a platform removably mounted within the hollow body.A pair of batteries are mounted in the platform and engage a pluralityof contacts mounted in said platform for energizing an electric lightbulb mounted in a resilient conductor extending outwardly from one ofsaid contacts. The body has a resilient portion which is deformableinwardly to engage and operate bulb-energizing means which are operativeto move the resilient conductor and light bulb between an off" positionand an "on" position.

PATENTFHJUWRIBH 3,588,490

SHEET 1 [1F 2 THOMAS H. NICHOLL ATTORNEYS PATENIEU JUN28 I971 SHEET 2 BF2 Mgwdw ATTORNEYS LAMP DEVICE This invention relates to portable lampdevices and more particularly to lamp devices having bulb-energizingmeans having interengaging members having serrated edges for engagingarms of a post which move a light bulb between an on position and an oftposition.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide a lampdevice which is self-contained within a portable housing or body whichis a spherical segment having a flattened bottom member; to provide sucha lamp device which is substantially watertight and floatable; toprovide such a lamp device having a light bulb removably mounted in aplatform which is mounted within a hollow body wherein bulb-energizingmeans are engaged and operated by a resilient portion of the body whichis deformable inwardly to move a resilient conductor and the light bulbbetween "on" and off positions; to provide such a lamp device which isself-righting when thrown; to provide such a lamp device which isparticularly adapted to function as a signal for emergencies, such ashighway and water accidents; to provide such a lamp device which isparticularly adapted to use at lawn, patio, and pool parties; and toprovide such a lamp device which is simple in construction, economicalto manufacture, easily maintained, positive in operation, and durable inuse.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and examplecertain embodiments of this inventions.

FIG. I is a perspective view of a lamp device embodying features of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the lamp device taken on line 2-2, FIG. 1showing a resilient conductor having a light bulb mounted therein in anon" position.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the lamp device taken on line 3-3, FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of bulb energizing means formoving the resilient conductor and light bulb between an on" and an off"position.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the bulb energizing means andthe resilient conductor with the bulb in an off" position.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 5 showing thebulb energizing means and the resilient conductor moving the light bulbtoward the on" position.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the bulb-energizing means.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a portion of thebulb-energizing means showing the relative height of elements ofaserrated edge ofa housing portion thereof.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a support bracket mounted on a support.

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of the lamp device stored in the supportbracket with portions broken away to better illustrate the position ofthe bulb-energizing means when the lamp device is in the bracket.

FIG. 11 is an elevational view ofa modified method of supporting thebracket.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 to 6, inclusive, of the drawings thereference numeral 1 generally designates a lamp device which has ahousing or body having an upper portion 2 and a lower portion 3 withinwhich aplatform 4 is mounted. Batteries 5 and '6 are mountable in theplatform 4 and are adapted to energize an electric light bulb 7 mountedin a resilient conductor 8. Pushbutton-type bulb-energizing means 9 ismounted in the platform 4 and is adapted to move the resilient conductor8 and the light bulb 7 mounted therein between an off" and an on"position.

The body member preferably has walls of resilient elasticshock-resistant translucent or transparent material, as, for example,synthetic resins such as polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, or otherresilient flexible material. It is preferred that at least the upperportion 2 be made of translucent or transparent material fortransmission of light therethrough. The upper portion 2 may beimpregnated with a suitable coloring material to produce selectedcolors, such as yellow, red, blue, and green. Colors such as red andyellow may be used in warnings for emergencies, such as highway andwater accidents while other colors would be appropriate for use atsocial functions and the like.

The upper portion 2 of the housing is illustrated asa substantiallyspherical member having screw threads 10 formed on a lower edge thereoffor interengaging with screw threads 11 on a an upper edge of the lowerportion 3. A mounting rib 12 extends outwardly from the exterior surfaceof the upper portion 2 substantially at the top thereof and has aplurality of openings 13 therethrough whereby the lamp device 1 may besuitably supported in a suspended or elevated position as for lawn,patio, and pool parties. A rope (not shown) may be attached to themounting rib 12 and the lamp device I tossed or thrown into water toserve as a marker. When the screw threads 10 and 11 are interengaged,the housing or body is substantially watertight.

The housing portion 3 has a planar bottom member 14 whereby the body isa spherical segment. The batteries 5 and 6 and the platform 4 are withinthe lower portion 3 whereby the lamp device 1 is self-righting whentossed or thrown. The planar bottom member 14 has a resilient andflexible portion 15 therein which is deformable inwardly and ispositioned to engage and operate the bulb-energizing means 9. The planarbottom member 14 has a housing button 16 which may be pressed or pushedinwardly into the lower portion 3 for engaging and operating thebulb-energizing means 9. A plurality of annular rings 17 are radiallyspaced from the housing button 16 and a plurality of recesses 18alternate with the rings 17 thereby increasing the flexibility of theflexible portion 14 and allowing sufficient movement to engage andoperate the bulbenergizing means 9. In the illustrated structure, thehousing button 16 is formed integrally with the bottom member 14.

The lower portion 3 has a seat 19 below the screw threads 11 and theseat 19 is adapted to receive and support the platform 4. A guide rib 20is mounted on the seat 19 and extendsupwardly therefrom to engage andposition the platform 4, as later described. A POCKET 21 is formedwithin the lower por tion 3 and is diametrically spaced from the rib 20,as shown in FIG. 2. The pocket 21 is formed by a wall 22 which is spacedinwardly from the seat 19 and which is substantially parallel to thewall of the lower portion 3. The wall 22 has opposite ends turnedsubstantially at right angles and suitably connected to the wall of thelower portion 3, as by being formed integrally therewith. The wall 22thereby defines the pocket 21 with an open top which is adapted toreceive a lug 23 depending from the platform 4 whereby the guide rib 20and the pocket 21 cooperate to position the platform 4 within the lowerportion A plurality of battery support ribs 24, as shown in FIGS. 2 and3, are formed within the lower portion 3 and extend upwardly from thebottom member 14. Each battery support rib 24 has a pair of spacedarcuate recesses 25 and 26 for receiving and supporting the batteries 5and 6 respectively thereby providing additional support for the platform4 within the lower portion 3. In the illustrated structure, the batterysupport ribs 24 adjacent the flexible portion 15 are discontinuousthereacross to both support the batteries 5 and 6 and to allow theflexible portion 15 to be deformed inwardly into the lower portion 3 ofthe body.

The platform 4 has an annular flange 27 extending outwardly therefromfor engaging the seat 19in the lower portion 3. A notch 28 is formed inthe flange 27 for receiving or engaging the guide rib 20. In theillustrated structure, the lug 23 depends from the platform 4 adjacentthe flange 27 and is diametrically aligned with the notch 28 whereby thelug 23 and the notch 28 cooperate with the pocket 21 and the guide rib20 respectively to position the platform 4 within the lower portion Q.

The batteries 5 and 6 each have a positive contact 29 and a negativecontact 30 which in the illustrated structure are at opposite endsthereof. The batteries 5 and 6 are mounted in the platform 4 and engagea plurality of contacts which are operative to energize the light bulb 7when the bulb-energizing means 9 and the resilient conductor 8 are inthe on" position.

A common contact 311 is mounted on the platform 4 and depends therefrom.The common contact 31 is thereby positioned to be engaged by a positivecontact 29 of one of the batteries, as for example battery 5, and anegative contact 30 of the other battery 6. A single contact 32 isspaced from the common contact 31 and depends from the platform 4 and ispositioned to be engaged by the negative contact 30 of the battery 5.The single contact 32 has a bulb contact portion or arm 33 mounted on anupper surface of the platform 4 and positioned to be engaged by acontact of said light bulb 7 when in the on" position. The resilientconductor 8 is mounted on the platform 4 and is connected to a contact34 which depends from the platform 4 and is positioned to be engaged bya positive contact 29 of the other battery 6. The resilient conductor 8has an opening 35 adapted to receive and retain the light bulb 7 byengaging the casing thereof whereby a circuit is completed to the bulb 7when the bulb is mounted in the resilient conductor 8 and engages thebulb contact portion or arm 33 of the single conductor 32.

The bulb-energizing means 9 has a housing portion 36 mounted in theplatform 4 with a portion depending from the platform 4 and having apushbutton 37 movable therein. A portion of the housing portion 36extends above the platform 4 and has a serrated edge 38 adapted to beengaged by arms 39 of a post 40 movably within upper and lower portionsof the housing portion 36, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7.

The pushbutton 37 is positioned to be engaged by the housing button 16in the planar bottom member 14 and has an upper serrated edge 41 havinga plurality of spaced short projections 42 and a plurality of spacedlong projections 43. The spaced short projections 42 are each positionedto engage one of the arms 39 of the post 40 when the bulb 7 is in theon" position. The short projections 42 are each spaced to urge therespective arm 39 from the on position toward an off position. The longprojections 43 are each positioned to engage one of the arms 39 of thepost 40 when the light bulb 7 is in the off position. The longprojections 43 are each shaped to urge the respective arm 39 from theoff" position toward the on" position.

The post 40 is engageable with the resilient conductor 3 having thelight bulb 7 mounted therein. In the illustrated structure, the post 40has a pair of diametrically opposed arms 39 extending radially outwardlytherefrom. The arms 39 are positioned to be engaged by the projections42 and 43 of the pushbutton 37 whereby the arms 39 and the post 40 aremoved along the serrated edge 38 of the housing portion 36.

The serrated edge 33 of the housing portion 36 has a plurality of spacedstandards 44 and a plurality of recesses 45 between adjacent standards44. Each of the standards 44 has a stop surface 46 extending outwardlytherefrom and the stop surface 46 is positioned to be engaged by andretain one of the arms 39 of the post 46. Each of the stop surfaces 46corresponds to the off" position of the light bulb 7 and each of therecesses 45 correspond to the on" position ofthe bulb 7.

When it is desired to energize the light bulb 7, the housing button 16is engaged and pressed or pushed inwardly into the lower portion 3 ofthe housing or body. The housing button 16 engages the pushbutton 37 ofthe bulb-energizing means 9 and moves same inwardly or upwardly withinthe housing portion 36 to overcome the resistance of a suitableresilient member, such as a helical spring 47, to urge the post 40 fromthe of position to the on" position. In the "off" position, the arms 39engage the stop surfaces 46 of the standards 44 and the long projections43 of the pushbutton 37 engage the arms and move same above the stopsurface 46 and into the recess 45 adjacent thereto. When the arms 39 arein the recesses 45, the resilient conductor 8 is biased to lower thelight bulb 7 into enall,

gagement with the bulb contact portion or arm 33 thereby completing acircuit to the light bulb 7.

In the illustrated structure, FIGS. 5 and 8, the surfaces of theprojections 42 and 43 and the surfaces of the standard 44 are sloped tourge the arms 39 in a clockwise direction, whereby the arms movealternately between the stop surfaces 46 and the recesses 45. Forexample, a single movement of the housing button 16 moves the arms 39from the stop surface 46 to the adjacent clockwise recess 45 and asubsequent movement of the housing button 16 moves the arms 39 from therespective recess 45 to the adjacent stop surface 46 in a clockwisedirection.

The resilient conductor 8 is adapted to engage a portion of the platform4 to thereby retain the post 40 within the housing portion 36. In theillustrated structure, an end portion 43 depends from the resilientconductor 8 and has a lip or flange 49 extending outwardly therefromwhich is positioned to engage a top member 50 ofa housing 51 extendingupwardly from the platform 4. The housing 51 also has sides 52 whichretain the end portion 48 and the lip or flange 49 within the housing51.

A lamp support bracket 55, as shown in FIGS. 9 to II, inelusive, ismounted on a suitable support 56 and is adapted to receive and retainthe lamp device 1 therein for suitably storing same. The lamp supportbracket is adapted to operate the bulb-energizing means 9 so that whenthe light bulb 7 is in the "on" position or in the off position, thelight bulb 7 will be in the on" position or be moved to the on positionwhen the lamp device is removed from the lamp support bracket 55.

The lamp support bracket 55 is illustrated as a substantially C-shapedstructure generally corresponding in shape to the housing or body of thelamp device 1 and the bracket 55 has a pair of laterally spaced upperarms 57 extending outwardly from the support 56 and a lower support arm58 having a projection 59 extending upwardly from the lower support arm58 and adapted to operate the bulb-energizing means 9, as laterdescribed. A loop shaped member 69 is suitably secured to the supportbracket 55, as by welding, and is adapted to be retained within andsupported by the support 56.

The support 56 is adapted to support a plurality of lamp supportbrackets and is illustrated as a channel-shaped member extendingupwardly from a base 61. The support 56 has inwardly directed arms orflanges 62 adapted to retain the loop-shaped member 60 within thesupport 56. The flanges 62 each have a notch 63 therein to receive theloop-shaped member 60 which is then lowered into engagement with anabutment member 64 which supports the bracket 55 above the base 61.

When the lamp device 1 is placed in the lamp support bracket 55, themounting rib 12 is inserted between the upper arms 57 and the projection59 engages the housing button 16, 1

as shown in FIG. 10, deforming same inwardly to move the pushbutton 37to adjust the post 40 to move the resilient conductor 8 to a positionwith the light bulb 7 in the on" positron.

In the illustrated structure, the upper edge 65 of the forward edge ofeach of the standards 44 terminates at a point above the upper edge 66of the stop surface 46 thereon, whereby when the arms 39 are positionedwithin the recesses 45 corresponding to the on" position of the lightbulb 7, the projection 59 of the bracket 55 does not move the pushbutton37 upwardly sufflciently topermit the arms 39 of the post 40 to leavethe respective recess 45 and engage the stop surface 46. Therefore, whenthe lamp device 1 is removed from the lamp support bracket 55, the arms39 of the post 40 remain within the recesses 45, allowing the resilientconductor 3 to return the light bulb 7 to the "on" position.

When the resilient conductor 8 and the light bulb 7 are in the offposition with the arms 39 engaging the respective stop surfaces 46 andthe lamp device 1 is placed in the lamp support bracket 55, theprojection 59 will move the pushbutton 37 upwardly moving the arms 39over the respective upper edge of the respective stop surfaces 46whereby when the lamp device 1 is removed from the lamp support bracket55,

the arms 39 will be moved into the adjacent recesses 45, therebyallowing the resilient conductor 8 and the light bulb 7 to be moved tothe on" position.

F lGS. l0 and 11 illustrate a modified method of supporting the lampsupport bracket 55 wherein suitable fastening devices, such as bolts orscrews 67, extend through the loopshaped member 60 and into a surface ofa support 68.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described oneform of my invention, it is not to be limited to this specific form orarrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as suchlimitations are included in the claims.

lclaim:

1. A self-contained lamp device comprising:

a. a substantially spherical housing having an upper portion and a lowerportion, interengaging means on said upper and lower portions removablysecuring same together;

b. a platform within said housing;

c. means in the lower portion of the housing for receiving said platformand supporting same;

d. a light bulb;

e. a plurality of contacts mounted in said platform, one of saidcontacts having a resilient conductor extending outwardly therefrom andhaving said light bulb mounted therein;

f. a pair of batteries mounted in said platform and engaging saidcontacts for energizing said light bulb;

g. bulb-energizing means mounted in said platform for moving said lightbulb between an off position and an on position, said bulb-energizingmeans having a post with diametrically opposed arms extending radiallyoutwardly therefrom, said post engaging said resilient conductor havingsaid light bulb mounted therein, said bulb-energizing means having ahousing having a serrated edge engageable by said arms of said post,with said edge having portions when engaged by said arms operation tohold said post and light bulb in an on position and other portionsengaged by said arms with the post and light bulb in off" position;

h. a pushbutton in the housing and operable to move the post and armsfrom one of said edge portions to the other; and

. a resilient portion in said housing, deformable inwardly andpositioned to engage said pushbutton and operate same.

. A self-contained lamp device comprising:

. a substantially spherical housing having an upper portion and a lowerportion, said lower portion having a planar bottom member and screwthreads on an upper edge thereof for interengaging with screw threads onsaid upper portion;

b. a platform mounted within said housing, said platform having a flangeextending outwardly therefrom for seating within said lower portion ofsaid housing;

c. alight bulb mounted in said platform;

d. a plurality of contacts mounted in said platform, one of saidcontacts having a resilient conductor extending outwardly therefrom andhaving said light bulb mounted therein;

e. a pair of batteries mounted in said platform and engaging saidcontacts for energizing said light bulb;

f. bulb-energizing means mounted in said platform for moving said lightbulb between an "off" position and an "on position, said bulb-energizingmeans having a post with diametrically opposed arms extending radiallyoutwardly therefrom, said post engaging said resilient conductor havingsaid light bulb mounted therein, said bulb-energizing means having ahousing having a serrated edge engageable by said arms of said post,said bulb-energizing means having a pushbutton having a serrated edgefor engaging said arms of said post; and

g. a resilient portion in said planar bottom member of said lowerportion of said housing, said resilient portion having a housing buttondeformable inwardly and positioned to engage said pushbutton, saidresilient portion having a plurality of annular rings radially spacedfrom said housing button, each of said rings having a recess thereinwhereby said resilient portion is deformable inwardly thereby permittingsaid housing button to be moved into engagement with said pushbutton andreturn.

3. The lamp device as set forth in claim 2 including:

a. a seat within said lower portion of said housing for receiving saidflange of said platform;

b. a notch in said flange of said platform;

c. a lug depending from said flange, said lug being diametricallyopposed from said notch;

d. a guide rib mounted within said lower portion of said housing andextending upwardly from said seat, said guide rib being received in saidnotch in said flange; and

e. a pocket in said lower portion of said housing diametrically opposedfrom said guide rib, said pocket having an open top for receiving saidlug thereby positioning said platform with said lower portion of saidhousing.

4. The lamp device as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

a. said serrated edge of said housing has a plurality of spacedstandards and a recess between each of said standards, each of saidstandards has a stop surface extending outwardly therefrom, said topsurface is positioned to be engaged by and retain one of said arms ofsaid post, each of said stop surfaces corresponds to said off" positionof said bulb, each of said recesses corresponds to said on" position ofsaid bulb;

b. said serrated edge of said pushbutton has spaced short projectionsextending longitudinally outwardly from said pushbutton, each of saidshort projections is positioned to engage one of said arms of said postwhen said bulb is in said on position, said short projections each areshaped to urge said respective arm from said on position toward saidoff" position; and

c. said serrated edge of said pushbutton has a plurality of longprojections alternating with said short projections, each of said longprojections is positioned to engage one of said arms of said post whensaid bulb is in said off position, said long projections are each shapedto urge said respective arm from said off" position toward said on"position.

5. A lamp device and supporting bracket therefor comprisa. a lampsupport bracket mounted on a support, said bracket having a pair oflaterally spaced upper arms extending outwardly from said support and alower support arm having a projection extending upwardly therefrom;

b. a hollow substantially spherical housing having an upper portion anda lower portion, said lower portion having a planar bottom member andscrew threads on an upper edge thereof for interengaging with screwthreads on said upper portion, said upper and lower portions of saidhousing having walls forming a chamber within said housing, said upperportion having a mounting rib extending therefrom and positioned to bereceived between said upper arms of said bracket;

. a platform mounted within said housing, said platform having a flangeextending outwardly therefrom for seating within said lower portion ofsaid housing;

. a pair of batteries mounted in said platform;

e. an electric light bulb mounted in said platform for emitting lightwhen energized for transmission through said upper portion of saidhousing;

f. a plurality of electrical contacts mounted in said platform forengagement with said batteries, one of said contacts having a resilientconductor having said bulb mounted therein, said resilient conductorbeing normally biased to complete a circuit between said batteries andsaid light bulb;

g. bulb-energizing means mounted in said platform for moving said lightbulb between an "off" position and an on" position, said bulb-energizingmeans having a post with diametrically opposed arms extending radiallyoutwardly therefrom, said post engaging said resilient conductor havingsaid light bulb mounted therein, said bulb-energizing means having ahousing having a serrated edge engageable by said arms of said post,said bulb-energizing means having a pushbutton having a serrated edgefor engaging said arms of said post; and

h. a resilient portion in said planar bottom member of said lowerportion of said housing, said resilient portion having a housing buttondeformable inwardly and positioned to engage said pushbutton, saidhousing button being positioned to be engaged by said projection of saidlower support arm of said bracket for moving said pushbutton of saidbulb-energizing means whereby said light bulb will be moved from an off"position when said housing is placed in said bracket to an on positionwhen said housing is removed from said bracket.

6. A lamp device comprising:

a. a hollow body substantially in the shape of spherical segment havinga base with said base being a flattened bot tom member in a plane normalto a radius of the body, said bottom member being of an area wherebysaid body when positioned on said base will tend to remain at rest, saidbody having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper and saidlower portions having interengaging edges, said body portions havingwalls of resilient elasticshock resistant light-transmitting materialdefining a chamber within said body;

b. a platform;

c. means in said lower portion of said housing for receiving andsupporting said platform to removably mount same within said chamber;

power means;

f. an electric light bulb for emitting light when energized fortransmission through said walls of said upper portion of said body;

g. a plurality of electrical contacts mounted in said platform forengagement of said power means, one of said contacts having a resilientconductor having said light bulb mounted therein, said resilientconductor being normally biased to complete a circuit between said powermeans and said light bulb;

h. bulb-energizing means mounted within said chamber for moving saidresilient conductor and said light bulb between anfoff" position and onposition, said on" position having said light bulb energized by saidpower means;

i. said bulb-energizing means including a pushbutton having an edge witha plurality of spaced projections, a post engageable with said resilientconductor having said light bulb mounted therein, said post having aplurality of arms extending outwardly therefrom, said post being movablein response to movement of said pushbutton, said arms each beingpositioned to be engaged by said edge of said pushbutton, a housingmounted in said platform and having an edge with a plurality of spacedprojections each having a recess therein, said projections each beingengageable by said arms of said post, resilient means for urging saidpushbutton away from said post; and

j. said lower portion of said housing including a resilient portiondeformable inwardly to engage and operate said bulb-energizing means.

A lamp device comprising:

a. a hollow body substantially in the shape of spherical segment havinga base with said base being a flattened bottom member in a plane normalto a radius of the body, said bottom member being of an area wherebysaid body when positioned on said base will tend to remain at rest, saidbody having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper and saidlower portions having interengaging edges, said body portions havingwalls of resilient elasticshock resistant light-transmitting materialdefining a chamber within said body;

. a platform; means in said lower portion of said housing for receivingand supporting said platform to removably mount same within saidchamber;

. power means, said power means being a pair of batteries,

said batteries each having positive and negative contacts;

. means in said platform for receiving and supporting said pair ofbatteries;

. an electric light bulb for emitting light when energized fortransmission through said walls of said upper portion of said body;

. the mounting of said power means in said platform having said lowerportion of said housing including a resilient portion deformableinwardly to engage and operate said bulb-energizing means;

. said bulb-energizing means having a pushbutton with an edge having aplurality of spaced short projections each positioned to engage one ofsaid arms of said post when said bulb is in said on" position, saidshort projections each being shaped to urge said respective arm fromsaid on" position toward said off position; and

. a plurality of spaced long projections each positioned to engage oneof said arms of said post when said light bulb is in said off position,said long projections each being shaped to urge said respective arm fromsaid of position toward said on position.

. A lamp device comprising: a hollow body substantially in the shape ofspherical seg ment having a base with said base being a flattened bottommember in a plane normal to a radius of the body, said bottom memberbeing of an area whereby said body when positioned on said base willtend to remain at rest, said body having an upper portion and a lowerportion, said upper and said lower portions having interengaging edges,said body portions having walls of resilient elasticshock resistantlight-transmitting material defining a chamber within said body;

. a platform within said chamber; means in said lower portion of saidhousing for receiving and supporting said platform;

. power means, said power means being a pair of batteries,

said batteries each having positive and negative contacts;

. means in said platform for receiving and supporting said power means;

an electric light bulb mounted in said platform for emitting light whenenergized for transmission through said walls of said upper portion ofsaid body;

the mounting of said power means in said platform having a plurality ofelectrical contacts for engaging said batteries, one of said contactshaving a resilient conductor hav ing the bulb mounted therein, one ofsaid contacts being positioned to be engaged by said bulb when in on"position, said resilient conductor being normally biased to complete acircuit between said batteries and said light bulb;

bulb-energizing means mounted in said chamber for moving said resilientconductor and said light bulb between an off position and on" position,said on position having said light bulb energized by said batteries;

i. said lower portion of said housing including a resilient portiondeformable inwardly to engage and operate said bulb-energizing means;

j. said bulb-energizing means having a pushbutton;

k. said resilient portion of said lower portion of said housing having ahousing button movable into said body and positioned to engage saidpushbutton;

1. said resilient portion having a plurality of annular rings radiallyspaced from said housing button;

rn. each of said annular rings having a recess therein for increasingflexibility of said resilient portion of said lower housing;

n. said platform having a flange extending radially out-

